The Gainesville City School Board will spend more than $220,000 to add three new buses to the city's fleet for the upcoming school year.
Board members heard last week from Chris Griner, the school system's CFO, and Jerry Castleberry, the school system's transportation director, about the need to purchase the buses.
Total cost for the new vehicles is actually $299,874 but with a contribution of $77,220 from a state bond program, cost to the city will be $220,654, according to Griner.
"We get an allotment from the state of Georgia and we've actually earned one bus this year and they give a certain price - that's $77,220," Griner said.
He said the remainder of the amount will come from the FY2018 budget, which has yet to be approved.
"We won't receive those buses right now - there's about a five to six month delivery window - and Mr. Castleberry is concerned if we don't go ahead and move forward with this, then it would be the middle of the school year next year before we'd be receiving the buses," Griner said.
Castleberry said nearly two-thirds of the students who attend Gainesville City Schools ride the bus, a percentage he termed "very high." He said it makes more sense for Gainesville to purchase the larger 87-passenger buses.
"We just prefer the bigger buses because our system is one that offers schools of choice and the kids need the transportation." Castleberry said.
Current fleet size is 66 buses, according to Castleberry.
Griner assured the Board that the order could be placed with Yancey Bus Sales now and payment could be made once the buses are delivered, which will happen once the new fiscal year begins.
Board members gave unanimous approval to the purchase request.
